Scotland must keep its eyes on the prize of truly sustainable fishing
We are at a critical turning point for fisheries management in Scotland, but you’d be forgiven for missing that fact. When the end -of -year fisheries negotiations in Brussels concluded in the usual late night scramble, there was the predictable surge of press releases from all quarters - Governments claiming victory for ‘their’ fishermen, while environmental groups berate politicians for discarding scientific advice. When backed into our opposing corners, we fail to recognise collective progress and the opportunities ahead. And we can be forgiven that, given the lamentable approach adopted by the Council of Fishery Ministers in recent years. But some strategic progress, albeit grudging, has been achieved.
Banning discarding: 2015 will be a game changer for Scottish fisheries. The Landing Obligation (‘discard ban’) comes into force on January 1st for the pelagic fleet (fishing for herring and mackerel etc). 12 months later, the discard ban will kick in for the demersal fleet (fishing for cod, haddock etc) which will be difficult to implement and police, as many of these species swim together. Government and industry must do all that can be done to prepare for the Landing Obligation, including closed areas to avoid catching unwanted fish, on-board cameras to show progress is being made, and maximum uptake of selective gear on fishing vessels.
At present, of the 30 vessels in the Scottish fleet segment of over 24 metre demersal trawlers, almost half (14) are not using identified selective gear. While phasing out discards will undoubtedly cause hardship for some vessels, Scottish Government economic analysis identifies that there will be offsetting economic benefits. The report estimates that eliminating discards of the six key whitefish stocks by Scottish vessels has the potential to add up to £200 million to the landed value of these species between 2013 and 2020 compared to the status quo. By 2020, the additional value of landings of the six key stocks by Scottish vessels each year could be worth £26m-£28m. So a win-win if it can be delivered.
Razorbill Alca torda, pair displaying, Isle of May National Nature reserve, Andy Hay
Ending overfishing: Scotland, and Scottish fleets, must demonstrate that they are doing all within their powers and abilities to fish at sustainable levels (Maximum Sustainable Yield, or) by 2015 where possible, and at the latest by 2020 where there is proof that the earlier deadline would seriously jeopardise the social and economic sustainability of the fleets involved. The danger is that this ‘jam tomorrow’ approach will persuade Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead to delay full implementation of necessary measures. We want to see a clear roadmap of how Scotland will meet this commitment for all Scottish stocks.
Changing how we manage quota: For the first time in decades, the Scottish Government is considering changing how it allocates quota. RSPB Scotland and WWF believe there should be a ‘quota pot’ to reward the ‘best’ Scottish vessels, which bring social and economic benefits to local communities without damaging the marine environment, with more opportunities to fish than others. This would include vessels fitted with onboard cameras, which is the only effective way to monitor the Landing Obligation and wider environmental targets such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
It’s worth repeating that RSPB Scotland supports sustainable fishermen. Our vision is for fisheries which are discard free, with minimal bycatch of non-target species including seabirds and operate within laws to protect Scotland’s emerging network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We want a future where boats catch sustainable, high quality catches and bring pride and profit to their home ports, and are rewarded for doing so with even more opportunities to fish. Scotland must keep its eyes on the prize of truly sustainable fishing and do what it can to meet the challenges head on with innovative and sustainable solutions.
However, if the Scottish Government wants to keep our confidence, closer liaison with us and our colleagues WWF Scotland throughout this critical year is required.